Reconstituted Vs Natural Stone
The main difference between reconstituted stone and natural stone is their origin: Natural stone is quarried directly from the ground, whereas reconstituted stone is engineered from natural stone content. The key differences matter when choosing a building material for a project. Natural stone comes straight from the ground whereas reconstituted stone uses crushed natural stone and other materials, which are mixed and formed to create architectural stone products.
There are many differences between the two and many similarities and depending on your requirements, their performance can vary. For an external or architectural project, the difference can affects more than just the appearance. Factors such as durability, installation and costs all affect overall project suitability and below, we compare how both products differ in origin.
Origin and Appearance of natural and Reconstituted Stone
Natural stone is cut from natural rock and quarried from the earth meaning this type of material offers unique variations in colour, texture and markings. Whereas reconstituted stone is manufactured from stone aggregate and mixed with cement or resin which then is able to be designed to resemble natural stone or replicate it offering many design opportunities. Natural stone changes over time and can last for centuries, it is often preferred for traditional heritage or architectural projects where natural stone is valued. Reconstituted stone offers an extensive range of options as a building material and provides architectural detail.
Consistency and Durability
Choosing natural stone means that no two pieces are exactly the same. Each piece has its own unique colour, texture and characteristics, giving a property a distinctive appearance and character. Natural stone can also be extremely durable, depending on the type of stone selected. When considering natural stone for external applications, several factors can influence its long-term durability. It is strong, long lasting and offers longevity. These include the stone’s porosity, water absorption, resistance to frost and freeze-thaw cycles, as well as the weather conditions to which it will be exposed.
Reconstituted stone is easier to achieve a consistent colour and pattern which makes it a very versatile material. This can be beneficial where a more uniform appearance is required and therefore becomes more practical. However, it is important to understand that reconstituted stone is not necessarily less durable than natural stone. A high-quality reconstituted stone product can perform extremely well in external applications. Unlike natural stone, it is cast in moulds through a controlled process. If considering using reconstituted stone then the things to consider would be its water absorption, freeze thaw and overall strength.
Cost of Reconstituted Stone Vs Natural Stone
If choosing natural stone for a house exterior then overall, natural stone can be more expensive:
- More premium material in authenticity and variation, often seen as a higher end choice that can improve with age
- Higher installation/labour costs due to irregularity of stone type
- Preparation and cutting of original stone type can be more expensive
- Can be more difficult to colour match between batches
If choosing reconstituted stone for a house exterior then, some considerations are;
- Material costs are usually lower due to less expensive raw material
- Effective manufacturing means the product can be produced in moulds rather than quarried
- Less cutting and wastage due less requirement of cutting original slabs into useable pieces. Recon stone can be formed closer to its final shape
- Less quarrying costs and more design flexibility
- Installation costs can vary – be aware that the more complex design and bespoke mouldings in a reconstituted design, the more specialist installation needs to be which can cost more than natural stone.
Overall the most important thing to consider when thinking about costs is the installation costs rather than just the cost of the stone itself.
The Overall Finish Between Natural Stone and Reconstituted Stone
Natural stone provides a distinctive sense of rustic character and charm, with natural variations from one piece to the next. Differences in colour, grain, texture and pattern create a unique appearance that adds depth and character to a property.
Reconstituted stone often replicates and offers an extremely good alternative to natural stone depend on which stone types are used within the crushed aggregate. Overall it can have a bit more of a manufactured look and a more uniform look depending on the surface and finish.
At All Brick and Stone, we have extensive experience working on a wide range of projects, supplying high-quality natural stone and wet-cast stone products.
From traditional developments to contemporary projects, we work closely with our customers to provide the right materials to meet their individual requirements.